Just when you thought everything car pricier, comes one that’s priced affordably, especially by EV standards. The 2026 Nissan Leaf arrives this year with a starting price of $31,485. That’s not the standard range S grade either, that’s the S+ with an estimated driving range rating of 303 miles! The mid-level SV+ checks in at $35,725, while the range-topping Platinum+ costs $40,485.
Yup, you can now buy a 300-mile battery-electric vehicle for under $35,000. This gets you a 75-kWh battery pack and an electric motor with 214 hp and 261 lb-ft of torque. Plus, the Leaf also has Plug & Charge capability and the NACS or Tesla-style charging port. However, the latter only has DC charging capability, which allows the car to go from 10 to 80% in 35 minutes under ideal conditions. For home charging, you’ll need to use the old-school J1772 port on the left front fender. Additionally, the onboard charger maxes out at 7.2 kW. While decent, that’s lower than most modern EVs with an 11-kW onboard charger.
2026 Nissan Leaf: Strong on Value
Nissan went all out and made sure its entry-level EV packed plenty of bang for your buck. The S+ trim comes with a long list of standard features, including the full Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of driver assistance features, the ProPilot Assist semi-autonomous driving system, surround view camera, and rear parking sensors. Dual 12.3-inch displays also come standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Moving up to the SV+ or Platinum+ gets you larger dual 14.3-inch screens and wireless charging. Additionally, the latter also adds a 10-speaker Bose Personal Plus premium audio system, 19-inch alloy wheels, a head-up display, a panoramic glass roof, a power liftgate, and multi-color ambient lighting.
There are some odd omissions, though. The heat pump only comes on the SV+ and Platinum+. It’s not available on the S and S+ at all. Moreover, the battery heater is an option on the same upper trims. Both of these features should be standard on all modern EVs. Additionally, the 2026 Leaf is front-drive only, just like its predecessor.
The 2026 Nissan Leaf goes on sale this fall, starting with the big-battery models. Standard range models with a 52-kWh battery will follow later this year. That model’s single electric motor makes 174 hp and 254 lb-ft of torque. Its driving range rating will be disclosed at a later date.
Source: Nissan
